42 comments:

Looks like the Packers have this one wrapped up. Solid D against the Bears, pushing Cutler around all day. Sacked 7 times including 3.5 by Matthews (my son's favorite). Forte got hurt and left the game, though so that isn't good. Glad that dude got paid.

Won't be long until all the games are on cable, or PPV over the internet controlled by NFL. I do wonder how that will affect the game's popularity. I think once it is no longer on major networks, it is likely to get more brutal.

I don't think it will ever go to PPV or exclusively cable; the networks charge serious cash for advertising, more than can be made on PPV or cable subscriptions alone, I think.

Also, not all teams are competitive all season long; PPV for Jacksonville games, to take one example, wouldn't pay for the broadcast. The network contracts enable them to socialize, er, spread the cost across all games.

I think we're likely to see more games. 17-18 in the regular season, dropping one or two preseason games to keep the total pre- and regular season at 20, add another bye week, and expand rosters by one per position group (line, backfield, edge players on offense, same on defense, plus maybe two more for the PS).

The NFL will be able to sell the TV contract with more real games; the networks will be able to charge that much more for advertising.

As for the brutality of the game, I see it going the other way - liability is too great; courts seem to like the players over the owners - its just a matter of time before some player(s) win a big lawsuit over debilitating injuries.

The longer term problem for the NFL will likely be stadium costs. The 'Niners are building a new one for $1.2B; public financial support is minimal - other jurisdictions aren't going to cough up half a billion or more for a ten-game days a year stadium anymore. Many fans won't want to pay what I'll be paying for the new stadium - at some point, the financing just doesn't make sense, esp. with widescreen HDTV with surround sound at home for the cost of one season's worth of tickets.

The reason I think the NFL will go PPV or some form of internet streaming is that it can cut out the networks and increase its payday - sell the advertising itself, plus get fees. I would think they will sell it on a seasonal basis. Not in the immediate future, but I do think it's coming. Won't be cable as we know it, but I think at some point they will take control of the content with whatever the technology is.

Your point on the stadium costs is well taken. Here in MN, the government just gave the Queens several hundred million dollars for a new palace that very few people can afford to attend. I really think this will come crashing down at some point, as a lot of people are figuring out that seeing the game on the Hi-Def big screen beats the stadium experience by far.

Can you imagine getting in Brandon Jacobs' way when he is running at full steam?

Back in college, I was in the college Republicans. We played an annual football game against the campus Democrats. They recruited a ringer from the Badgers - like a third string running back. He probably was only 220# or so. Not a chance in hell I was going to tackle that dude.

Remember back when Meade said he was glad Obama won, presumably because that's what was gonna make this nation turn more conservative. If the President wins again, that first win is gonna double in stupidity overnight. I have no doubt that will finally do the trick, but we will be so screwed by then it won't matter anyway. 2008 gets dumber every day. Although I too had better hopes for it, the Middle East is showing us lately that democracy is a double edged sword...there and here.

"I really think this will come crashing down at some point, as a lot of people are figuring out that seeing the game on the Hi-Def big screen beats the stadium experience by far."

I agree with the first part; but as one who watches away games on TV and goes to home games at the 'Stick, I like both experiences, differently, for different reasons.

There's nothing like being there in person - last year, especially the playoffs - were an amazing ride.

I'm fortunate - I got season tickets shortly after the 'Niners hired Bill Walsh, so I've seen some amazing football.

I've also seen some real disappointments (the Vikings upsetting the 'Niners in the '87 playoffs was a big one, as was the Giants beating the 'Niners in the '90 NFC Championship game), and the nine years previous to last year were really hard to watch - but I went anyway.

But yeah, I couldn't go 20 times a year - ten is enough, unless they're hosting playoff games.

I don't want them to win, but I sure as hell respect their effort, and their sport - and hope everyone walks off the field at the .end of the day to play another day.

The older I get, the less attractive playing pro football seems to be. Short playing life, high risk of big injury, lots of money when you're dumb enough to blow it. OK, the last part would be fun, but you're pretty much starting over when you're 35 or 40

I went sculling yesterday afternoon. After Labor Day, I have to take a little vacay time to leave work early to beat darkness. 3:00 in Sept., 2:00 in Oct. I hadn't rowed for a week because of fall allergy related illness last weekend. I was still hacking up ragweed loogies and leaving them on the surface of the lake as fish food.

I had really good speed and strength. I found a new phrase that worked well: relaaaaaaaaxed STRENGTH! The word relaxed is to make sure I'm not rushing the recovery and to relax my muscles; hands away fast, then slow slides floating forward to the catch.

The oar blades find the water and then Strength! Is the punchy power word to jump off the foot stretchers and apply smooth power to the stroke: legs, back, arms.

The water was like glass. My lay down break was eerily quiet--no wind, no lapping water, just a bird or two conversing.

I can't believe I'm rowing again. I didn't expect to be able to even try until next year. Thank you God. I am grateful for each day. I am blessed by each row.

There's an unusual number of Wednesday games in this season, too. Even worse than Thursday games! That's church night. We'll see who we really worship.

Here's what The Commish of my football pool wrote recently:

My attitude towards football has evolved as well. I find myself less interested than in the past. I’m not sure why this is, but part of it may be a growing awareness of the cost to the players of participating in the game. Oh sure, everyone has long known that the fame, glory and money came at the cost to many players of bad knees, backs and hands later in life, but that seemed like a calculated tradeoff. The last year or two, though, the cognitive cost of concussions, especially repeated concussions, and of repeated sub-concussive brain impacts, has become clearer. It’s been especially noticeable as players younger than I am, whose careers were completed within the timeframe of my attention to football, have killed themselves, brought down by depression and neurological difficulties. A couple of them have killed themselves by shooting themselves in the chest so that their brains could be donated to a study being done in Boston on ex-players’ brains. The results of the study so far have been pretty negative; ex-NFL players brains are often affected by degenerative symptoms of the brain typical of men decades older.

This is where you feel a bit of remorse. Football is just entertainment, after all. And it’s one thing to screw up your knees playing pro football, you take that risk as an adult in exchange for higher pay than non-football players, and the potential respect and fame that comes along with playing in the NFL. The terms of that particular bargain have long been known. When you see that the tradeoff is a mental fog, confusion and depression in your 40s for that pay, and the terms of that deal are just now becoming clear, then it gives me pause. Should I be supporting this? And encouraging the NFL’s long tail, down through the college ranks to the high school teams and peewee leagues, where damage is done at a tender age mostly to children who have no prayer of making the NFL and its bargain? Football has never been a prissy game, it’s always taken a physical toll (and 100 years ago was killing players regularly enough that the federal government considered banning it outright), but the prospect of brain damage is only now gaining much awareness and makes me step back and consider my support for the spectacle.

I still like the game. I liked the college game scene when I was at Iowa State, crisp fall days, autumn leaves, walking across campus, marching bands and cheerleaders and stadium announcers, taut games against good opponents, some games on the sidelines as photographer, the rhythm and pace of a good team driving downfield, the combination of physical strength and grace with the intellectual and morale aspects of taking on your opponent. The pro game I came to appreciate for its higher levels of execution, and, in the same way that music you discover early in life always seems special, I really liked the NFL story lines of my burgeoning interest, Joe Montana and John Elway and Air Coryelle and Don Schula and those high-scoring Miami/San Diego games. I still like many of those aspects of the game, and have come to adore the odd little corners (why I love safeties, overtimes, and Devin Hester’s failed field goal tries run back for touchdowns), but now there’s this awareness of the cost to these players. Dave Duerson was exciting as a player for the Bears in the 80s; now I’ve seen the scans of damage to his brain. Junior Seau played for New England as recently as 2009; now his brain awaits scanning as well. I like the gameday scene, I enjoy the spectacle, I regret the costs to the players who entertain us. I’m in for another season, and the League is certainly aware of the issues, and perhaps rule changes and penalties and fines can reduce the incidence of concussive injuries. One interesting aspect will be to see how the game evolves from here. Some writers have suggested that the real threat might come from parents keeping their kids from playing due to the risk of brain injuries, narrowing the talent pool that feeds the game. It is illuminating to think that boxing was once a major national sport and now is played out in the shadows with little attention from the general public.

kentuckyliz said...I went sculling yesterday afternoon. After Labor Day, I have to take a little vacay time to leave work early to beat darkness. 3:00 in Sept., 2:00 in Oct.

First off that sounds like one hell of a workout.I was in the UP(upper peninsula)last week and it doesn't get full dark till after 9:30 pm. The 45th parallel running somewhere south of Crivitz Wisconsin.Steelhead are running in the Firesteel river.

Brian Doherty at the reason.com blog tells us about a Rolling Stone interview with Dylan (unfortunately not yet online) in which the interviewer tries to badger Dylan into expressing his love for Obama. Of course, Dylan being Dylan, his attempts are foiled. Heh.

I suppose that it appears deceptively simple and brutish, but at the higher levels it's quite complicated. This is particularly so for quarterbacks, who are required to determine coverages, find open receivers and deliver the ball to them with uncanny speed and precision. All while being chased by ornery fellows weighing in at about 300 pounds.

That said, I don't strongly disagree with Kirby. I'd watch some badminton, but not likely a chess match, except under unusual circumstances.

Yashu, the Reason report of the Rolling Stone interview made my day (it's early). I guess I doubt that Dylan is pulling the lever for the Republicans, but I love his contrarian streak.

what does Dylan think of Obama? Dylan first deflects with: "You should be asking his wife what she thinks of him." ...Then: "He loves music. He's personable. He dresses good. What the fuck do you want me to say?"

"A woman I work with has a big tanker of a son in middle school who plays football. She's mad because the coach is giving them "enzyme shakes" and she believes it's surreptitious steroids.

To a middle school child."

This is, of course, wrong (and very well put the preceding paragraphs).

The NFL is certainly aware of the risk - if only from a liability perspective (I don't believe this is the only reason, but there are cynics out there) - so I think rule changes and stricter enforcement will curb some of this.

But I think they (all of organized football, not just the NFL) have to come up with a regime - blood testing? - to limit PEDS and HGH. Football players are much, much bigger now than in the '70's and '80's; and I believe it isn't all just genetics, nutrition and weight training.

Is Dylan on drugs? Obama is the least personable President I can remember. At least that's not a side of himself he shows in public. His oratory is robotic, and emotionally he is as elusive as his college records.